Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering

Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering focuses on biological sciences, chemical and biochemical engineering, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry and genetics. Under this programme, students study about genetic technology, and learn how to develop treatments for different diseases. The programme also covers applied enzymology and enzyme technology; metabolic and reaction engineering for biocatalysis and renewable resource utilization; and glycol-biotechnology. While pursuing the course, students are taught as to how the cells, organs and tissues function. Engineers are trained to transform cellular and molecular advances into technologies with an aim to improve the quality of life.

Career Option

Any student who is contemplating on pursuing a career in Biotechnology must be aware that this field is still developing in India. Therefore

the number of job openings and pay packages are both very low when compared with IT and CS fields.
After a B.Tech degree

students can find jobs in pharmaceutical companies

research labs and institutions in India. However

most Indian students tend to go abroad to pursue their masters or doctorate studies in Biotechnology and allied fields. Some students also shift to MBA and enter the world of business

finance and banking as their engineering background gives them the required quantitative skills to excel in these sectors.

Working Condition

- You’ll usually work 35 to 40 hours a week, including shifts, nights and weekends.
- You’ll mainly work in a laboratory, often in sterile conditions.
- You’ll usually wear protective clothing like a lab coat and safety glasses.

Personal Skill

• Problem-solving skills • A methodical approach to work • A high level of accuracy and attention to detail • The ability to analyze statistical and technical data • IT skills

Educational Qualification

Successful Persons

Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shah

Dr Kiran Mazumdhar Shah is a famous biotechnologist from India. Her love for biotechnology led her to study BSc Zoology in Bangalore India and subsequently studied Masters in brewing technology abroad. After her studies she set up her own lab to innovate products related to her research. She also worked as a Trainee in Ireland to gain hands on experience in her research work. She subsequently started working for many companies and as her research expanded she started her own biotech company known as 'Biocon'. Biocon is world famous biotech company for producing medicines and pharmaceuticals. They have also recently produced medicines for first stages of cancer. She is regarded as world famous personality in biotechnology and TIMES magazine also noted her as women of power to watch last year. She ranks powerful women from India list too.

David Baltimore

He received Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 1975, shared with Howard Temin (with Renato Dulbecco, for related research) for identifying the enzyme reverse transcriptase in the virus particles, thus providing strong evidence for a process of RNA to DNA conversion, the existence of which had been hypothesized some years earlier.